Suleiman-Aoun Rapprochement Paves Way for Alliance ahead of 2013 Elections
Opposition sources criticized the ongoing rapprochement between President Michel Suleiman and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, saying that it is aimed at paving the way for an alliance between the two sides ahead of the 2013 parliamentary elections.
They told the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper in remarks published on Sunday that Suleiman chose an inappropriate time for this rapprochement given the MP’s recent hostile remarks against the opposition and March 14 camp.
“His rapprochement with Aoun will inevitably cause the March 14 camp to distance itself from him,” they added.
FPM sources meanwhile denied that the rapprochement was instigated by external pressure, revealing that the President took the initiative and contacted Aoun in order to salvage their relationship after it was marred by disputes during the government formation process.
“He probably reached out to Aoun after he sensed that the March 14 camp was no longer in power and he wanted to fortify the Christians in Lebanon at the behest of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi,” they stressed.
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